§ Lord O'Haganasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which Ministers are accountable to Parliament for the operation in the United Kingdom of the European Social Fund.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Employment (Viscount Ullswater)My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Employment is responsible for the operation of the European Social Fund. Administration of the ESF in Great Britain is dealt with by the Employment Department's ESF Unit. In Northern Ireland, this administration is dealt with by the European Communities Branch of the Northern Ireland Department of Economic Development.
§ Lord O'Haganasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much the United Kingdom has received from the European Social Fund in each of the last five years.
§ Viscount UllswaterThe amounts the United Kingdom received from the European Social Fund in each of the last five financial years were:
£ million 1987–88 394 1988–89 312 1989–90 363 1990–91 327 1991–92 506
§ Lord O'Haganasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that the operations of the European Social Fund are sufficiently scrutinised by both Houses of Parliament.
§ Viscount UllswaterYes.
§ Lord O'Haganasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why they will not inform British MPs and MEPs about applications to the European Social Fund; and
51WAWhether the exclusion of MPs and MEPs from the operation of the European Social Fund is in compliance with the doctrine of subsidiarity.
§ Viscount UllswaterIt is not cost effective to publish detailed information on over 6,000 European Social Fund projects approved each year. The department has already explained the position to the noble Lord in correspondence, most recently in a letter from my honourable friend the Minister of State.
The Department does, however, provide information to individual MPs and MEPs in response to requests about specific ESF applications, subject to the usual consideraton of cost limits.
The way in which the European Social Fund is operated in the United Kingdom is fully in compliance with the Council regulations governing the structural funds.